Belkin Components, which has built $200 million worldwide annual business providing traditional accessories such as USB hubs, cables, switches and car rechargers for cellphones, has quietly entered game peripheral business with limited lineup of products for Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2) and PC.
At least 2 retail chains still were having trouble keeping up with demand for DVD remote accessory for Microsoft’s Xbox videogame console as of Tues. Meanwhile, we were told that memory card for Nintendo’s GameCube was selling just as briskly, and retailers were having trouble keeping up with demand.
Microsoft’s Xbox was most searched-for videogame console at Yahoo Shopping in week ended Nov. 25, Yahoo said Mon. Xbox was followed by Nintendo’s GameCube and Sony’s PS2, respectively. Yahoo said transactions over Thanksgiving Day weekend (Fri.-Sun.) increased more than 75% over same weekend year ago. Top 3 most searched-for electronics products at shopping.yahoo.com Web site were digital still cameras: Olympus C-3000 Zoom, Canon PowerShot S100 Digital Elph, Nikon Coolpix 995.
Copyright Office is seeking comment on whether to combine 2 rate-setting proceedings, one for performance of sound recordings by nonexempt, noninteractive digital subscription services and other for performance of sound recordings by preexisting satellite digital audio radio and subscription services. Request for consolidated Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP) was filed by Music Choice following unsuccessful negotiations with RIAA on rate for new subscription services. In separate petitions, RIAA and, jointly, XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio also asked for CARP. Office is requesting input on whether both rate proceedings can be handled efficiently by one CARP or whether there are advantages in convening separate panels. Comments and notices of intent to participate in either or both CARPs are due Dec. 20, reply comment Jan. 22 -- 202-707- 8380.
3D software provider Alias/Wavefront said Mon. it planned to assemble 3D artists from film, game development, industrial design, visualization and Web design sectors in 7 separate host cities worldwide Dec. 3. Toronto company called “3December” event “annual celebration designed to build a community amongst computer graphics (CG) professionals and those with an interest in learning from the industry’s top talent and seeing the latest technological advancements.” Cities included this year will be Chicago, Detroit, L.A., London, N.Y., Seoul, Tokyo. Company said it and Macromedia would unveil jointly what they called “latest innovation in 3D technology -- a new offering that builds upon the June release of May Shockwave 3D Exporter.”
Senate returns today (Tues.) and plans to take up economic stimulus legislation, which failed to advance past procedural vote on closing debate 2 weeks ago. Lawmakers and their staffs negotiated details in bill over Thanksgiving weekend and legislation to be taken up is likely to be more aggressive on depreciations of computer goods than original measure by Senate Finance Committee Chmn. Baucus (D-Mont.).
Matsushita Communication Industrial plans to withdraw from limited-growth operations, such as production of certain floppy disc drives, to focus on core businesses such as cellphones and car navigation systems, Japanese news reports said.
First pirate DVDs of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone movie emerged in China last weekend just one week after film’s theatrical release in U.S. and U.K. News reports said counterfeits of box-office hit were selling for equivalent of $1.20 in Chinese markets, despite grainy image and poor sound obviously obtained through camcorder recording in theater. Source in Hong Kong confirmed price and quantity but said superior pirate versions often follow first counterfeits.
Increases in higher margin DVD business prompted chipmaker ESS Technology to revise projected 4th quarter financial results upward to revenue of $74-$76 million from earlier estimate of $68-$74 million. It also said it expected to post net profit of 22-24? per diluted share, up from estimated 17-22?. CEO Robert Blair said company was “especially excited by the increasing number of brand-name OEMs” using ESS components in DVD players shipping into U.S. market. He said company’s 4th-quarter DVD shipments were on course to set another sales record.
Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) said Mon. it would cut price of its PlayStation 2 (PS2) videogame console in Japan as of Thurs. by 15% to ?29,800 ($239.99) from ?35,000 ($281.89). Reduction is 2nd on system in Japan since console launched there in March 2000. Previous cut was 12%. Sony said sales increased after it reduced PS2 price in Europe for 2nd time late in Sept. In U.K., reduction was to ?199.99 from ?269. That brought PS2 within range of N. American $299 -- same as system has had since rollout in Oct. 2000.